Connecter



L. A. GOELZ Dec. 1, 1931.

CONNECTER Filed Sept. 2

INVENTOR L eomzrafl. 60 9/2 TTO'RNEY Another object of my invention isto pro- Patented Dec. 1, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LEONARD A.GOELZ, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR '10 WESTINGHOUSEEDECTRIO'G; MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIACONNECTED.

Application filed September 8, 1826. Serial No. 183,110.

My invention relates to connecters.

One object of my invention is to provide a connecter comprising twointerchangeable members.

vide a connecter comprising two interchangeable members of atongue-and-slot construction.

Another object of my invention is to pro- 10 vide a connector having twointerchangeable members and a pivotal means'connecting the two membersconsisting of an annular groove having a stud disposed therein, wherebythe pivotal means serves the dual" purpose of a stud and a groove.Heretofore,it has been customary, in constructing connecters of thistype, to have a groove in one member and a stud in the other member. Byvirtue of the pivotal construction of my invention, the members arerendered interchangeable, the advantages being apparent to those skilledin, this art.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a connector comprisingtwo interchangeable members having means for preventing theover-breaking thereof.

These and other objects that will be made apparent throughout thefurther description of my invention are attained by means of theapparatus hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, wherein,

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a connecter showing the interchangeablemembers at right angles;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view showing the connecter in operativeposition;

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of one of the interchangeable members; I

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of the device shown in Fig. 3 turned 90;and

Fig. 5 is a transverse. sectional view taken along the line VV of Fig.4.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. l'shows a connecter comprising twomembers 1 and 2, which are interchangeable, each member having a tongue3 and a slot 4 which is located tend outwardly and engage the groove 6of the cooperating member. To connect the members, they are placedat-right angles, as shown in Fig. 1, allowing the studs 7 to engage thegrooves 6, and, upon relatively moving the members 1 and 2 angularly,the lugs 7 and grooves 6, acting as a pivot, the tongue portions 8,which are adapted to fit into the slots 4, are moved into them to ensurea simple and rigid connection having good conductive characteristics.

Fig. 2 shows the connecter with the members 1 and 2 in a linealoperative position. In this position, the lugs 7 occu y a position onthe same side of the longitu connecter and are so disposed as to preventinal axis of the tudinal direction. The tongue portions 8 engage theslots 4 to prevent separation of the members 1 and 2 in a lateraldirection, the end faces of the reduced tongue portions 8, fittingagainst the inner end faces of the slots 4 and cooperating with the lugs7 and grooves, 6, for preventing relative angular movement of themembers past the aligned position shown in Fig. 2.

The pins or studs 7 have a diameter of substantially the width of thegrooves and, when the connecter is in a lineal operative .position, asshown in Fig. 2, the studs 7 are disposed in a plane disposed at anangle of substantially 45 with respect to the lineal axis. Disposing thestuds 7 in the position above indicated is a very important feature ofmy invention, as, at this point, the faces of the lugs 7, fittingagainst the surfaces of the annular grooves 6, effect a minimumlongitudinal and lateral separation-play of the members 1 and 2. 4

Referring to Fig. 3, which is an elevational view of one of theinterchangeable members, the ends of the tongue portions 8 are bevelledat the edges 9 to render ready entrance into the slot 4 of the othermember, and each tongue portion 8 is provided with a slot 11 thateffects a spring action of the faces of the between the tongue 3 and ajaw 5 of each of tongue portions 8 against the inner faces of themembers 1 and 2. The tongues 3 have annular grooves 6 and pins or lugs 7that exthe slots 4, thereby ensuring a snug fit.

The oonnecter members are each provided,

at their free ends, with sockets 12 for receivin the ends of flexibleconductor 13.

ile I have given a sufficient description to illustrate one embodimentof m invention, it will be apparent to those s 'lled in the art thatcertain changes, modifications, substitutions, additions or omission mabe made in the construction illustrated wit out departing from thespirit and scope of my invention, as set forth 1n the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A connecter comprising two detachably connected members, each havinan annular groove in a face thereof, a stu disposed in each groove andextending outwardly beyond I the face of the member and engaging in thegroove of the other member, and means to prevent separation of. saidmembers in a direction perpendicular to the faces thereof.

2. A connecter comprising two detachably connected members, each havingan annular groove in a face thereof, a stud disposed in each groove at asubstantial distance from the axis of the member and extending outwardlybeyond the face of the member and engaging in the groove of the othermember, and means to prevent separation of said members in a directionperpendicular to the faces thereof.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 30th dayof August,

LEONARD A. GOELZ.

